A5077769926- Planetary Science and Exploration
- Space Exploration and Technology
- Astro and Planetary Science
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Spaceflight effects on biology
- Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Spacecraft Design and Technology
- Marine and coastal ecosystems
- Geological and Geochemical Analysis
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir analysis
- Human-Automation Interaction and Safety
- Underwater Vehicles and Communication Systems
- Spacecraft and Cryogenic Technologies
- Space exploration and regulation
- Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping
- Polar Research and Ecology
- Climate change and permafrost
- Oceanographic and Atmospheric Processes
- Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis
- Water Quality Monitoring Technologies
Honeybee Robotics (United States)
2024
Ames Research Center
2014-2023
Bechtel (United States)
2023
Planetary Systems (United States)
2021-2022
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
2013-2021
University of Guelph
2021
Bay Area Environmental Research Institute
2014-2019
NASA Research Park
2019
Carnegie Mellon University
2018
NASA Exoplanet Science Institute
2015
Mars has undergone three main climatic stages throughout its geological history, beginning with a water-rich epoch, followed by cold and semi-arid era, transitioning into present-day arid very desert conditions. These global eras also represent different of planetary habitability: an early, potentially habitable stage when the basic requisites for life as we know it were present (liquid water energy); intermediate extreme stage, liquid solutions became scarce or challenging life; most recent...
Abstract— The Haughton impact structure has been the focus of systematic, multi-disciplinary field and laboratory research activities over past several years. Regional geological mapping refined sedimentary target stratigraphy constrained thickness sequence at time to ˜1880 m. New 40Ar–39Ar dates place event ˜39 Ma, in late Eocene. an apparent crater diameter ˜23 km, with estimated rim (final crater) ˜16 km. lacks a central topographic peak or ring, which is unusual for craters this size....
Modern microbialites are complex microbial communities that interface with abiotic factors to form carbonate-rich organosedimentary structures whose ancestors provide the earliest evidence of life. Past studies primarily on marine have inventoried diverse taxa and metabolic pathways, but it is unclear which these members microbialite community introduced from adjacent environments. Here we control for by sampling surrounding water nearby sediment, in addition use a metagenomics approach...
The articles associated with this Special Collection focus on the NASA BASALT (Biologic Analog Science Associated Lava Terrains) Research Program, which aims at answering question, "How do we support and enable scientific exploration during human Mars missions?" To answer team conducted field studies under simulated mission conditions to both broaden our understanding of habitability potential basalt-rich terrains examine effects science current concepts operations. This article provides an...
A main goal of human space exploration is to develop humanity into a multi-planet species where civilization extends beyond planet Earth. Establishing self-sustaining presence on Mars key achieving this goal. In situ resource utilization (ISRU) critical component enabling humans both establish long-term outposts and become self-reliant. This article focuses mission architecture using the SpaceX Starship as cargo crew vehicles for journey Mars. The first Starships flown will be uncrewed...
Penetrative convection in the surface layer of a midsize temperate lake (5 km 2 ) was investigated both summer and winter using conductivity‐temperature‐depth (CTD) logger mounted on an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) flown repeatedly along horizontal transects at selected depths. In summer, epilimnion cooled differentially during calm evening (240 297 W m −2 east west sides lake, respectively). These cooling rates agree well with average net heat flux 270 ths. estimated from...
Members of the genus Exiguobacterium are found in diverse environments from marine, freshwaters, permafrost to hot springs. can grow a wide range temperature, pH, salinity, and heavy-metal concentrations. We characterized chiriqhucha strain RW2 isolated permanently cold freshwater microbialite Pavilion Lake, British Columbia using metabolic assays, genomics, comparative phylogenetics, fatty acid composition. Strain has most extensive growth for temperature (4-50°C) pH (5-11) known isolates....
Biologic Analog Science Associated with Lava Terrains (BASALT) is a science-driven exploration program seeking to determine the best tools, techniques, training requirements, and execution strategies for conducting Mars-relevant field science under spaceflight mission conditions. BASALT encompasses Science, Operations, Technology objectives. This article outlines Operations background, strategic research questions, study design, portion of results from second test. tests are used iteratively...
The High Lakes Project is a multidisciplinary astrobiological investigation studying high‐altitude lakes between 4200 m and 6000 elevation in the Central Andes of Bolivia Chile. Its primary objective to understand impact increased environmental stress on modification lake habitability potential during rapid climate change as an analogy early Mars. Their unique geophysical environment mostly uncharted ecosystems have added new objectives project, including assessment low‐ozone/high solar...
This study determined the natural abundance isotopic compositions ((13)C, (14)C) of primary carbon pools and microbial communities associated with modern freshwater microbialites located in Pavilion Lake, British Columbia, Canada. The Delta(14)C dissolved inorganic (DIC) was constant throughout water column consistent a primarily atmospheric source. Observed depletions DIC (14)C values compared CO(2) indicated effects due either to residence time and/or inputs (14)C-depleted groundwater....
Abstract Pavilion Lake in British Columbia, Canada, is home to modern‐day microbialites that are actively growing at multiple depths within the lake. While microbialite morphology changes with depth and previous isotopic investigations suggested a biological role formation of these carbonate structures, little known about their microbial communities. Microbialite samples acquired through Research Project (PLRP) were first investigated for phototrophic populations using Cyanobacteria...
Field research target regions within two basaltic geologic provinces are described as Earth analogs to Mars.Regions the eastern Snake River Plain of Idaho and Big Island Hawai'i, United States, that represent present-day early Mars, respectively, were evaluated on basis settings, rock lithology geochemistry, alteration, climate.Each these factors provides rationale for selection specific targets field in five analog regions: (1) Craters (2) Highway lava flows at Moon National Monument...
Abstract Quantitative tools for deciphering the environment of microbialite formation are relatively limited. For example, oxygen isotope carbonate‐water geothermometer requires assumptions about isotopic composition water formation. We explored utility using ‘clumped’ thermometry as a tool to study temperatures studied microbialites recovered from depths 10–55 m in Pavilion Lake, and 10–25 Kelly spanning thermocline both lakes. determined temperature carbonate growth 18 O/ 16 O ratio waters...
A major objective in the exploration of Mars is to test hypothesis that planet hosted life. Even absence life, mapping habitable and uninhabitable environments an essential task developing a complete understanding geological aqueous history and, as consequence, what factors caused Earth take different trajectory biological potential. We carried out aseptic collection samples comparison bacterial archaeal communities associated with basaltic fumaroles rocks varying weathering states Hawai'i...
Abstract— Asteroid and comet impacts can have a profound influence on the habitats available for lithophytic microorganisms. Using evidence from Haughton impact structure, Nunavut, Canadian High Arctic, we describe role of in influencing nature ecological niche. Impact-induced increases rock porosity fracturing result formation cryptoendolithic habitats. In some cases depending upon target material, an increase translucence yield new photosynthetic cryptoendoliths. Chasmoendolithic are...
Observations of a cyclonic gyre in an ice‐covered, midsize (< 5 km 2 ), temperate lake are presented. Horizontal and vertical measurements temperature electrical conductivity were collected using conductivity‐temperature‐depth logger mounted on autonomous underwater vehicle additional instrumentation. These revealed cylindrical density anomaly with radius ∼110 m extending from the surface to ∼14 depth. The observed is smaller than internal Rossby deformation (∼ 200 m), which suggests...
Abstract Photosynthetic activity in carbonate‐rich benthic microbial mats located saline, alkaline lakes on the C ariboo P lateau, B.C. resulted p CO 2 below equilibrium and δ 13 DIC values up to +6.0‰ above predicted carbon dioxide ( ) values, representing a biosignature of photosynthesis. Mat‐associated carb ranged from ~4 8‰ within any individual lake, with observations both enrichments (up 3.8‰) depletions 11.6‰) relative concurrent dissolved inorganic ). Seasonal annual variations...